HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – A late comeback fell short in the opener, and too many miscues derailed the USCB baseball team in the finale as No. 22 St. Thomas swept a doubleheader from the Sand Sharks on Saturday at Richard Gray Sports Complex.

The Sand Sharks claimed the first game of the three-game Sun Conference series on Friday but were unable to carry the momentum into Saturday, as the Bobcats held on for a 9-7 win in the first game of the twinbill and won 16-2 to take the series. 

GAME 1 – STU 9, USCB 7

Thomas Estopare's solo home run and Wade Arduini's RBI groundout helped the Sand Sharks erase an early 2-0 deficit, but a five-run fifth inning but St. Thomas back in control. 

Bobby Wenthe's sacrifice fly and Brandon Joyce's RBI double kept the Sand Sharks in it, and USCB plated three runs in the eighth on Arduini's run-scoring groundout and RBI singles from Mclean Hartz and Kal Davis to pull within 9-7, before closer Brandon Valentin pitched the Bobcats out of a jam in the eighth and retired the side in the ninth.

Joyce was 4-for-5 and Estopare and Davis added three hits apiece for the Sand Sharks. Zac Burke kept USCB in it with five solid innings in relief but allowed five runs – only one earned – as the Sand Sharks committed six errors.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Thomas Estopare (3-for-5, two runs, HR, RBI)

GAME 2 – STU 16, USCB 2 (7 inn.)

Michael Centeno and David Palenzuela hit home runs and the Bobcats took advantage of eight USCB errors to win the finale. 

Defensive miscues led to a four-run third, five-run fourth, and three-run fifth as St. Thomas blew the game open. Only seven of the Bobcats' 16 runs were earned. 

Estopare had two of USCB's five hits and drove in a run.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Thomas Estopare (2-for-3, run, RBI)

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USCB hosts the College of St. Joseph (Vt.) for a four-game series Friday and Saturday with doubleheaders beginning at 1 p.m. each day.